FOX News/Opinion Dynamics Poll:Bush at 180 Days

NEW YORK – At the six-month mark, President Bush receives positive ratings from a majority of Americans. Among "Red States," those states that gave their electoral votes to Bush in the 2000 presidential election, his ratings are considerably higher than in "Blue States" (states that voted for Democratic candidate Al Gore).

In the latest FOX News/Opinion Dynamics Poll, 59 percent say they approve of the job George W. Bush is doing as president, and 25 percent disapprove. In Red States, 64 percent approve of the job he's doing compared to 54 percent in Blue States.

Approve

Disapprove

Nationwide

59%

25

Red States

64%

23

Blue States

54%

28

The same division is seen on the opinion of Bush as a person. Again, nationwide, 59 percent have a favorable opinion of Bush. That number rises to 66 percent favorable in Red States and dips to 53 percent favorable in Blue.

Bush's job approval rating is much higher than Bill Clinton's was at this point of his presidency, although lower than his father's. A Gallup poll from July 1993 shows 42 percent approved of the job Clinton was doing while 49 percent disapproved. In July 1989, 67 percent approved of George H.W. Bush's job performance and only 18 percent disapproved [Gallup].

"It is unlikely that we will see numbers like those the elder Bush received any time soon," comments Opinion Dynamics President John Gorman. "Both Clinton and the younger Bush came into office with higher negatives because of the intense negative politics that we now take for granted."

Other findings from the poll include:

• Most Americans can’t form an opinion of Bush's recent trip to the global summit. For example, 31 percent think Bush's trip was a success, 21 percent think it was a failure and 48 percent say neither or not sure.

• Stem cell research is an important issue to a majority of Americans (63 percent say "very" or "somewhat" important).

• 38 percent think Bush should follow the Pope's advise and oppose stem cell research (47 percent of Catholics), while 42 percent think Bush should support the research (including 39 percent of Catholics).

Polling was conducted by telephone July 25-26, 2001 in the evenings. The sample is 900 registered voters nationwide with a margin of error of ± 3 percentage points. LV = likely voters. "Red States" are states that voted for George W. Bush in the 2000 presidential election, and "Blue States" gave their electoral votes to Democrat Al Gore.

I'm going to read the names of some political figures. Please tell me whether you have a generally favorable or unfavorable opinion of each one. If you've never heard of someone, please just say so.SCALE: 1. Favorable 2. Unfavorable 3. (Can't say) 4. (Never heard of) (ROTATE)

1. George W. Bush

Favorable

Unfavorable

Can’t say

Never heard

27 July 01

59%

29

11

1

Red States

66%

22

11

1

Blue States

53%

35

11

1

13 July 01

61%

31

8

-

8 June 01

59%

31

9

1

11 May 01

59%

30

11

-

20 Apr 01

64%

27

9

-

2. Bill Clinton

Favorable

Unfavorable

Can’t Say

Never heard

27 July 01

42%

51

7

-

Red States

37%

55

8

-

Blue States

47%

46

7

-

20 Apr 01

40%

54

6

-

30 Mar 01

41%

52

7

-

16 Mar 01

40%

54

6

-

23 Feb 01

40%

54

6

-

3. Do you approve or disapprove of the job George W. Bush is doing as president?

Approve

Disapprove

(DK)

27 July 01

59%

25

16

Red States

64%

23

13

Blue States

54%

28

18

13 July 01

56%

30

14

8 June 01

59%

28

13

11 May 01

59%

26

15

20 Apr 01

63%

22

15

4. Last week President Bush participated in a global summit of world leaders. From what you know about the trip, do you think the president’s trip was a success or was it a failure?

All

Red States

Blue States

Trip was a success

31%

34%

29%

Trip was a failure

21

21

22

(Neither)

10

9

11

(Not sure)

38

36

38

5. Would you say you feel optimistic or pessimistic about the U.S. economy right now? (If optimistic/pessimistic) Is that strongly or only somewhat?

All

Red States

Blue States

Strongly optimistic

22%

22%

21%

Somewhat optimistic

33

37

30

Somewhat pessimistic

22

21

22

Strongly pessimistic

15

12

18

(Neither)

3

3

4

(Not sure)

5

5

5

6. The tax cut legislation enacted earlier this year means tax refund checks will be mailed this summer. What do you plan to do with your tax rebate – spend it or save it?

All

Red States

Blue States

Spend it

41%

43%

38%

Save it

35

31

38

(Don't expect rebate)

15

16

15

(Don't know)

9

10

9

7. Would you favor or oppose requiring all high school students to take drug tests?

All

Red States

Blue States

Favor

45%

48%

42%

Oppose

45

41

49

(Don't know)

10

11

9

8. Would you favor or oppose requiring all high school students to take drug tests if their parents consented to the tests and the test results could only be used to provide treatment for students using drugs?

All

Red States

Blue States

Favor

71%

72%

70%

Oppose

23

22

23

(Don't know)

6

6

7

9. At a meeting earlier this week, Pope John Paul II strongly urged President Bush to oppose stem cell research -- that is, medical research using tissue from human embryos. Do you think Bush should follow the Pope's advice and oppose stem cell research?

All

Catholic

Protestant

Red

Blue

Yes, oppose stem cell research

38%

47%

32%

39%

37%

No, support stem cell research

42

39

46

40

43

(Don't know)

20

14

22

21

20

10. How important is the issue of stem cell research to you personally?

All

Catholic

Protestant

Red

Blue

Very important

32%

35%

28%

33%

31%

Somewhat important

31

33

35

33

31

Not very important

15

13

15

13

17

Not at all important

13

12

14

12

13

(Don't know)

9

7

8

9

8

11. Do you believe there is intelligent life on other planets?SCALE: 1. Yes 2. No 3. (Not sure)

Yes

No

(Not sure)

27 July 01

54%

30

16

4 Apr 97

44%

40

16

12. Do you believe there is intelligent life in Washington, D.C.?SCALE: 1. Yes 2. No 3. (Some, but not much) 4.(Not sure)